JP4449755B2 - Control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device capable of connecting one or a plurality of external devices capable of device setting and / or control of input / output signals by operating an operator, and performing setting / control of the external devices. In particular, a transparent or translucent transparent display is arranged so that various device settings relating to a desired external device and / or instructions regarding control of input / output signals can be easily performed from the display. The present invention relates to a control device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a control device capable of connecting and setting one or a plurality of external devices capable of device setting and / or control of input / output signals by operating an operator, and setting and controlling the external devices. As an example of such a device, for example, in order to adjust a musical sound to a state where it seems that the performance by an artist (for example, a musical instrument player, a singer or a speaker) is most accurately expressed in a concert hall, a club or a studio. , Turn on / off many external devices such as multiple microphones and multiple electric / electronic musical instruments, set various parameters, etc., and mix multiple music signals (audio signals) input from external devices as appropriate There is a mixing device that generates the same or different number of new output signals and outputs the generated output signals to an external device such as an amplifier or a speaker. As such a mixing device, many devices such as the devices described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 shown below are known. These mixing devices have many setting operators (controllers) for setting and controlling input signals from external devices or output signals to external devices on the mixing console (adjustment console). By appropriately operating individual controllers and instructing changing of various settings related to input signals input from external devices and output signals output to external devices, newly generated output signals can be adjusted. In addition, a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) is integrally provided on the mixing console in the mixing device, so that the current setting state can be displayed on the display device as necessary. I have to.
JP 2004-104569 A JP 7-46065 A

  By the way, when using a mixing device or the like, which is a control device as described above, the mixer operator is an artist who is actually present at a location such as a stage away from a location where the mixing device such as a mixing room is disposed. While checking the status of the instrument at any time, by operating the appropriate controller at the appropriate timing from among the many controllers arranged on the mixing console, the music sound from the musical instrument that each artist is in charge of and the artist himself In many cases, instructions for changing various settings related to input and output signals, such as voices to be emitted, are performed at a good timing. However, as described above, the mixing apparatus has a large number of controllers arranged on the mixing console, and in order to correctly instruct change of various settings relating to input and output signals, the mixer operator must perform on-stage. The controller assigned to the corresponding external device must be correctly operated at an appropriate timing while frequently moving the line of sight between the artist and the mixing console. Therefore, it is easy to happen that the corresponding controller is lost, the operation timing is shifted, or other controllers are mistakenly operated, and it is very difficult to operate accurately so that such a thing does not occur. There was a problem. Further, since a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided on the mixing console (main body panel), the size and arrangement position of the display device are limited due to the space of the main body panel. For this reason, conventionally, the screen of such a display device has to be made small, and it is difficult to display a large number of control value setting states on the display device at the same time, and it is difficult to display an image or the like. There was also an inconvenience.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is easier to see larger by standing on the main body panel a display means in which a transparent or translucent flat display medium is provided with transparency. By providing a screen and a setting operator that can be touch-operated on the display medium, the operator can easily give various setting / control change instructions for the desired external device on the display means. An object of the present invention is to provide a control device.

Control device according to the present invention, an external device capable of controlling equipment setting and / or input signal 1 or connecting a plurality, and a control device capable of setting and controlling the external equipment, Toru Ri Na and bright or translucent planar display medium arranged remembering permeability, and a display means which visually displayed in advance a plurality of operating elements on the display medium, detects the viewpoint of the operator, the detection An operation for specifying any one of a plurality of operators visually displayed on the display medium based on the determined viewpoint and sandwiching the display medium that can be seen by the operator through the display medium in use party and of the opposing advance already placed the external device in position, assigning means for assigning the external device the operator can visually recognize as the relative specified operator roughly overlaps the display position of the operator to the control target When it was before Symbol specific Detecting means for detecting that Sakuko is operated, in response to said operation of detecting the operator, device setting and / or input and output signals of the assigned external devices of the assigned external device該操Sakuko And control means for controlling.

According to the present invention, the display means is formed by arranging a transparent or translucent flat display medium with transparency, and a plurality of operators are visually displayed in advance on the display medium. Their to, based on detecting the operator's point of view with respect to the display unit, while specifying any one of a plurality of operating elements which are visibly displayed on the display medium, transmitted through the display medium in use Among the external devices that are arranged in advance at positions facing the operator with the display medium visible to the operator, the operation is performed so that the specified operator is substantially overlapped with the display position of the operator. An external device that can be visually recognized by a person is assigned to a control target . The external device is one or a plurality of external devices which control is connected to the device capable of equipment settings and / or input and output signals. When it is detected that the previous SL identified operator is operated, the input and output signals of the device setting and / or the assigned external device of the external device assigned to該操Sakuko in response to the detection Control. Thus, the transparent or translucent planar display medium ingredients to give a display means formed by arranging and imparted transparency, advance visual display touch operable plurality of operating elements on the display medium The operator simply superimposes on the display medium an arbitrary operator that is visually displayed and an external device that sandwiches the display medium, and the operator can control the desired external device that the operator wants to control using the arbitrary operator. With respect to device settings related to devices and / or control of input / output signals , assignment changes to the operators can be easily performed.

  According to the present invention, it is provided with a display means in which a transparent or semi-transparent planar display medium is arranged with transparency, and a setting operation element that can be touch-operated is displayed on the display medium. As a result, the operator can not only obtain a large and easy-to-see display screen, but also can easily give instructions regarding device settings related to the desired external device and / or input / output signal control on the display means. , Has the effect.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the overall configuration of the control device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the controller shown in FIG. The control device shown in the present embodiment is an audio signal mixing device (hereinafter also simply referred to as a mixer), and the hardware configuration example of the mixer is configured using a computer, in which the CPU 1 is an external device. The entire mixer is controlled so that a plurality of audio signals input from the above are appropriately combined to generate a new mixing signal. However, in this embodiment, the entire mixer is controlled by one CPU 1 so as to mix a plurality of input audio signals, and signal processing such as actual mixing is performed by a signal processing unit (DSP) for signal processing. A description will be given by taking the example executed by 4 as an example.

  The microcomputer comprising the microprocessor unit (CPU) 1 and the ROM 2 and RAM 3 executes software including a predetermined control program, for example, for operation of each setting operator (controller) 5a on the mixing console by the mixer operator. In response to this, the overall control is performed, such as an instruction to change various settings (see main processing described later). Of course, the control of the entire mixer is not limited to the form of computer software, but can also be implemented in the form of a microprogram processed by a DSP (not shown) other than the DSP 4 for signal processing that executes signal mixing and the like. In addition, the present invention is not limited to this type of program, and may be implemented in the form of a dedicated hardware device including a discrete circuit, an integrated circuit, a large-scale integrated circuit, or the like. For the CPU 1, a ROM 2, RAM 3, a signal processing unit (DSP) 4, a mixing console 5, a transparent liquid crystal display 6, a position detector 7, a camera 8 via a communication bus (for example, a data and address bus) 1D. The communication interface 9 and the external storage device 10 are connected to each other. The mixing apparatus shown in this embodiment may have hardware other than those described above. Here, a case where the minimum necessary resources are used will be described.

  The ROM 2 stores various programs executed by the CPU 1 and various data. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory that temporarily stores various data generated when the CPU 1 executes a predetermined program, or as a memory that stores a currently executed program and related data. A predetermined address area of the RAM 3 is assigned to each function and used as a register, flag, table, memory, or the like. The signal processing unit (DSP) 4 is a signal processing circuit that executes signal processing such as mixing independently of the CPU 1, and a plurality of signal processing units (DSP) 4 are connected from the external input device 11 connected to the outside of the mixer via the input interface 4a. Signal is input. The input interface 4 a is an interface device for acquiring audio signals for a plurality of input channels from the external input device 11. Various setting change instruction operations executed by the DSP 4 are performed by a mixer operator appropriately operating the controller 5a of the mixing console 5 or a touch panel operator 6b described later. In the DSP 4, the controller 5a or the touch panel operator 6b is operated. The mixing process is executed while adjusting the audio signals for a plurality of input channels acquired from the external input device 11 based on the various control values set in. The mixed output signal generated by the DSP 4 is output to the external output device 12 connected to the outside of the mixer via the output interface 4b. The output interface 4 b is an interface device for supplying audio signals for a plurality of output channels to the external output device 12.

  On the mixing console 5 which also serves as a main body panel, a controller 5a and a display 5b are disposed at least. As can be understood from FIG. 2, a large number of controllers 5 a arranged on the mixing console 5 are input / output for performing various settings relating to input or output signals used in the mixing processing executed by the DSP 4. This is an operator group composed of a plurality of setting operators corresponding to each channel. As conventionally known, the controller 5a on the mixing console 5 includes, for example, an effective / invalid setting operation element for selecting / designating a channel to be operated, a rotary encoder for adjusting a control value for pan control, and a control value. Button type, rotation, such as a selector switch for switching that allows more detailed settings, a cue (CUE) switch for auditioning, and a volume level adjustment fader that sets control values related to the volume such as the input level and output level There are various types such as a formula, slide type and jog shuttle. Various settings (control values, etc.) instructed to be changed according to the operation of the various setting operators as described above are sent to the display 5b, the transparent liquid crystal display 6 or the DSP 4, and the display 5b is responded to the change instructions. And screen display on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 or mixing processing by the DSP 4 is executed. In general, the fader can be manually slid freely within a predetermined range, and a predetermined control value such as a volume level is set by operating a knob portion of the fader. Not limited to, motor-driven type that automatically drives fader knobs with a motor to achieve labor saving of manual fader operation in the field of music production and volume control, or automatic control of fader operation by an external computer, etc. May be a so-called motor drive fader.

  The display 5b is, for example, a liquid crystal disposed at a predetermined position on the mixing console 5 constituting the main body panel for displaying the control state of the CPU 1, the control value according to the currently set operation of each controller 5a, and the like. This is a display device composed of a display panel (LCD), a CRT, or the like. The display 5b is a general display widely used in a known mixing device or the like, and as shown in FIG. 2, a non-transparent display disposed on the mixing console 5 together with the controller 5a and the like. It is. Conventionally, all the various types of information are displayed on the display 5b. However, the size of the display 5b cannot be increased beyond the figure due to the size of the mixing console 5 or the like. Therefore, in the mixer shown in this embodiment, a transparent liquid crystal display 6 different from the display 5b is erected at the front position facing the mixer operator, and each controller 5a currently set here is set here. The mixer operator can obtain a larger display screen by visually displaying an image such as a control value or video according to the operation or a character 6a. Of course, the display content is not limited to the above-described control value and video, but may be any other information as long as it can be displayed. The video displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 can be displayed as it is or after processing the video captured in real time from the camera 8.

  In addition, the transparent liquid crystal display 6 has not only a display function for displaying images and characters but also a touch panel function. That is, on the transparent liquid crystal display 6, a large number of pseudo controllers 6b different from mechanically operated operators such as the controller 5a can be displayed (in this specification, this is referred to as a touch panel for convenience. The transparent liquid crystal display 6 can be used as a touch panel for performing various settings by touching the pseudo controller 6b displayed on the screen by the mixer operator. . At this time, an instruction corresponding to the displayed touch panel operator 6b is specified from the operation position on the screen touched by the mixer operator. As a method for obtaining the touched position on the transparent liquid crystal display 6, There are various methods such as a method using infrared light, a resistance film method, and a capacitance method. Since any known technique may be used for each of these methods, description thereof is omitted here. The transparent liquid crystal display 6 is composed of a transparent or translucent transmissive display medium. The transparent liquid crystal display 6 can display an image or characters and can be projected so as to transmit an existing artist. . Then, the mixer operator sees the artist projected so as to be transparent and the displayed touch panel operator 6b so as to overlap each other on the screen, so that the music from the instrument that the artist is in charge of can be obtained. Various setting change instructions regarding input and output signals, such as musical sounds and voices produced by the artists themselves, can be made by the superimposed touch panel operator 6b. Details of this will be described later (see FIG. 3 described later).

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the position detector 7 is a sensor for detecting the head position of the mixer operator, and is installed in, for example, a headphone or a head-mounted microphone that is already worn by the mixer operator. One or more pointers are arranged at positions where the pointer can be detected (see FIG. 2). In this embodiment, the function of the touch panel operator 6 b displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is determined based on the head position of the mixer operator detected by the position detector 7. That is, by detecting the position of the head of the mixer operator, a desired real artist that is transmitted through and superimposed on the touch panel operator 6b displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 when viewed from the mixer operator is in charge. An input signal from an external input device, such as a musical tone from a musical instrument being played or a sound emitted by the artist himself, is assigned to a control target, and various settings related to the input signal are instructed in accordance with the operation of the superimposed touch panel operator 6b. . In such a case, it is preferable to set the positional relationship between the existing artist and the mixer operator in advance. Of course, not limited to the above method, the line of sight of the mixer operator may be directly detected, and the function of the touch panel operator 6b may be determined based on this. The camera 8 is a device for displaying an image of a real artist (specifically, the external input device 11) on the transparent liquid crystal display 6. The image from the camera 8 is more ideal from an angle at which the mixer operator can see the artist through the transparent liquid crystal display 6. The video from the camera 8 can be displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6, and it is preferable to display the video of the external device that is seen superimposed on the touch panel operator 6b displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 when viewed from the mixer operator. . This is convenient because the mixer operator can clearly grasp the external device to be controlled even when it is difficult for the mixer operator to visually recognize the external device. Of course, the function of the touch panel operator 6b may be determined according to the selection of the video and the touch panel operator 6b by the mixer operator. In this case, the selected video and the touch panel operator 6b may be displayed so as to overlap each other.

  The communication interface 9 is an interface device for acquiring control values from an externally connected remote computer (not shown) or an auxiliary operator such as a pedal switch. Based on a control value acquired from an appropriate remote computer or the like via the communication interface 9, the controller 5a provided in the mixing console 5 can be automatically controlled. For example, each controller 5a can be driven so that each controller 5a points to a predetermined position corresponding to various control values set in advance in the remote computer. The external storage device 10 is set information related to various control values that can be set by a preset controller 5a, screen display information such as a controller type and a screen configuration displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 as a touch panel operator, or executed by the CPU 1. Various control programs (for example, “main processing” described later) and control-related data are stored. When no control program is stored in the ROM 2, the control program is stored in the ROM 2 by storing the control program in the external storage device 10 (for example, a hard disk) and reading it into the RAM 3. The CPU 1 can be operated in the same manner as in the case. In this way, control programs can be easily added and upgraded. The external storage device 10 is not limited to a hard disk (HD), but a flexible disk (FD), a compact disk (CD-ROM / CD-RAM), a magneto-optical disk (MO), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), etc. Any storage device may be used as long as the storage device uses various external storage media. Alternatively, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory may be used.

When the display 5b that is not the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is provided at the same time as in the above-described embodiment, the same type of information (images or characters) is visually displayed on the display 5b and the transparent liquid crystal display 6. Alternatively, different types of information may be displayed visually. In the case where the same type of information is visibly displayed, for example, all the information is visibly displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6, and only a part of the information is visibly displayed on the display 5b.
The mixing device is not limited to a signal processing unit (DSP) 4, a mixing console 5, a position detector 7, a camera 8, an external storage device 10, and the like built in a single device body, but each is configured separately. The apparatus may be configured to connect each device using a communication means such as a MIDI interface (not shown) or various networks.

  Here, the transparency, which is a characteristic function of the transparent liquid crystal display 6, will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining transparency, which is a characteristic function of a transparent liquid crystal display. FIG. 3A is a schematic side view showing an example of an installation mode of the transparent liquid crystal display of the mixing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a diagram of the transparent liquid crystal display viewed from the mixer operator. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a display state.

  The transparent liquid crystal display 6 erected on the mixing console 5 (main body panel) is composed of a transparent or translucent transmissive display medium (the structure of the transmissive transparent liquid crystal display 6 will be described later). As shown in FIG. 3A, the mixer operator A confirms through the transparent liquid crystal display 6 the actual artist B (for example, a musical instrument player, a singer, or a speaker) who is on the opposite side of the transparent liquid crystal display 6. can do. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), when viewed from the mixer operator, the real artist B facing the mixer operator A is transmitted through the transparent liquid crystal display 6 so as to be transmitted. It is projected on. As can be understood from FIG. 3B, a plurality of touch panel controls 6b are displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 in accordance with control by the apparatus itself (in this example, three fader for adjusting the volume level are displayed). Depending on the viewpoint (viewpoint) of the mixer operator, one of the displayed touch panel controls 6b (in this case, the center) and the projected real artist B may be superimposed on each other. Can do. As described above, in such a case, instructions for changing various settings relating to input and output signals, such as a musical tone from the musical instrument that artist B is in charge of and a sound emitted by the artist himself, are superimposed on the central touch panel operation. This can be performed by the child 6b. Therefore, the mixer operator A simply assigns the input signal to be controlled and looks at the touch panel operator 6b superimposed on any one of the touch panel operators 6b displayed with the line of sight shifted. It is possible to instruct to change various settings related to the input signal by operating.

When an input signal is assigned, it is preferable to display a current setting state or the like regarding various settings that can be instructed to change (in the illustrated example, the volume, type, and position are displayed).
In addition, it is good to display so that the corresponding touch panel operation element 6b displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 may be operated according to operation of the controller 5a. On the contrary, the controller 5a may be operated in accordance with the operation of the touch panel operator 6b.
Various information is displayed not only on the mixer operator A side of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 but also on the artist B side, that is, on each surface of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 on the front and back surfaces. The transparent liquid crystal display 6 may be configured so that it can. In such a case, the content of information displayed on each surface of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 may be displayed differently on the mixer operator A side and the actual artist B side. In this way, the mixer operator A can not only check various information and make various settings on a large screen, but also use the transparent liquid crystal display 6, which is standing on the front of the mixer operator A at all times, as a real artist. B can be actively used as a tool for giving some instruction to B. The structure of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 capable of such double-sided display will be described later (see FIG. 5 described later).

  As described above, the mixing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the transparent liquid crystal display 6 standing upright, and various types of information can be visually displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 so that it can be used as a large display screen. Further, the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is composed of a display medium having a property of transmitting transparent or translucent light, and an existing artist B on the opposite side of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is transmitted through the transparent liquid crystal display 6. It can be copied. Therefore, the structure of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 or FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing an embodiment of the structure of the transparent liquid crystal display.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is provided on one surface of a large transparent liquid crystal panel PN with a touch sensor (not shown) in which a liquid crystal member is sandwiched between a glass substrate or a plastic substrate stacked on each other. The half mirror HM is deposited. By providing a diffused light source LT that reflects to the half mirror HM and functions as a backlight at the peripheral edge of the liquid crystal panel PN, the panel is thin and easy to use. Further, when the half mirror HM is vapor-deposited on one surface of the liquid crystal panel PN, the transparent liquid crystal display 6 looks different from the inside and the outside across the liquid crystal panel. That is, since the light emitted from the inside is reflected by the half mirror HM (reflected light in the figure), the inside cannot be seen from the outside, while the light emitted from the outside is reflected by the half mirror HM. Therefore, the light can be seen from the inside to the outside (transmitted light in the figure). In this way, an actual artist or the like (outside) on the opposite side of the transparent liquid crystal display 7 can be seen from the mixer operator (inside), and the mixer operator can be seen from the existing artist or the like (outside). You can leave it out. As a result, the mixer operator can easily perform related settings while viewing the artist's situation.

  FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing another embodiment of the structure of the transparent liquid crystal display. The transparent liquid crystal display shown here has a structure capable of displaying on both sides. The transparent liquid crystal display 6 shown in FIG. 5 can display various types of information on the inside and outside of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 by overlapping two liquid crystal panels PN as described above. For example, device settings and sound source information may be displayed to the mixer operator (inside), and the actual artist or the like (outside) on the opposite side of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 may be displayed from the mixer operator. It is recommended to display messages, music scores or lyrics. The content displayed on each surface of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 may be appropriately switched by the mixer operator. Further, by depositing a half mirror HM on one liquid crystal panel PN on the mixer operator side (inside) of the two superimposed liquid crystal panels PN, in this case also from the mixer operator (inside) In such a manner, an actual artist or the like (outside) on the opposite side of the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is made visible, and an actual artist or the like (outside) is made invisible to the mixer operator. In this way, the mixer operator can easily give instructions for changing various settings in accordance with the artist's situation.

  Next, a “main process” for executing a process corresponding to the operation of various operators such as the controller 5a on the mixing console 5 and the touch panel operator 6b displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 by the mixer operator. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of “main processing” for executing control corresponding to the operation of various operators by the mixer operator. This “main process” is a process executed by the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1, and is started when the mixing apparatus body is turned on and is finished when the power is turned off.

  First, in step S1, initialization is performed. In step S2, it is determined whether or not there is a panel input. That is, it is determined whether the controller 5a on the mixing console 5 or the touch panel operator 6b on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is operated as an operation of various operators by the mixer operator. If it is determined that there is a panel input (YES in step S2), it is determined whether or not the panel input is in response to the operation of the touch panel operator 6b (step S3). When it is determined that the panel input corresponds to the operation of the touch panel operator 6b (YES in step S3), the operated touch panel operator 6b is a touch panel operator corresponding to “type 1”. It is determined whether or not (step S4). If it is determined that the operated touch panel operator 6b is a touch panel operator corresponding to “type 1” (YES in step S4), the head position of the mixer operator is detected (step S5). Then, a change instruction is specified from the positional relationship between the detected head position and the touch panel operation element 6b displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 (step S6). That is, in the case of the “type 1” touch panel operator 6b, that is, the touch panel operator 6b superimposed on an actual artist as viewed from the mixer operator, The touch panel operator 6b is assigned so as to instruct change of various settings related to input signals such as sound emitted by the artist himself, and the change instruction corresponding to the operation is specified.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the operated touch panel operator 6b is not a touch panel operator corresponding to “type 1” (NO in step S4), a change instruction is specified from the operation position (step S7). That is, the change instruction according to the operation position is specified by obtaining the coordinates of the operated touch panel operator 6b (that is, the touched screen position) and the purpose instruction content according to the touch panel operator 6b operated by the mixer operator. By detecting. Since such a technique is well-known, description here is abbreviate | omitted. In step S8, the process designated by the operated controller 5a or the touch panel operator 6b is executed. That is, when the touch panel operator 6b is operated, a process assigned in advance to the touch panel operator 6b is executed. On the other hand, when the normal mechanical controller 5a disposed on the mixing console 5 is operated instead of operating the touch panel operator 6b, the controller 5a is assigned according to the mechanical operation of each controller 5a. Execute the process. Examples of such processing include input signal mixing, input or output signal switching, level adjustment of each signal, effect setting, and the like.

  In step S9, it is determined whether there is a “status change”. The “situation change” here refers to a case where some change occurs in the apparatus, such as when the mixer operator operates the controller 5a or the touch panel operation element 6b. If it is determined that there has been a “status change” (YES in step S9), the corresponding video data is generated (step S10), and the display screen displayed on the display 5b or the transparent liquid crystal display 6 based on this is generated. Is updated (step S11). In step S12, the image displayed on the display 5b or the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is updated. However, when the video to be displayed here is captured in real time from the camera 8 or the like, the video is updated as needed. In step S13, signal input / output processing is executed. That is, based on various settings (control values and the like) instructed to be changed by the mixer operator, processing such as mixing and processing of the input signal is appropriately performed to generate an output signal and output it. When the process of step S13 is completed, the process returns to step S2, and the processes from step S2 to step S13 are repeated.

  As described above, the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is installed so as to stand on the main body panel, and images and characters are displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6. Get. Further, since the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is transparent or translucent and has transparency, the transparent liquid crystal display 6 can be transmitted so that an actual artist facing the mixer operator can be displayed. Then, by superimposing an existing artist on the touch panel operator 6b displayed in advance, various settings relating to the artist can be instructed to be changed using the superimposed touch panel operator 6b. Setting operations can be easily performed according to the situation.

It should be noted that the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is not limited to be fixedly erected on the mixing console 5 (main body panel), and the transparent liquid crystal display 6 can be freely arranged in a straight line or arc in the left-right direction or in an appropriate direction. It may be possible to move. In this case, it is convenient because it is possible to more easily superimpose the touch panel operation element 6b displayed in advance on an actual artist (specifically, the external input device 11).
A plurality of transparent liquid crystal displays 6 may be arranged. For example, two displays, a transparent liquid crystal display having a touch panel function together with a display function and a transparent liquid crystal display having only a display function, are prepared, and the transparent liquid crystal display having only the display function is provided on the mixing console 5. The transparent liquid crystal display having a touch panel function as well as a display function is installed so as to be freely movable in an appropriate direction. Even in such a case, by moving only the transparent liquid crystal display having the touch panel function together with the display function to the artist who wants to control, the touch panel operator displayed on the display can be more easily connected to the artist (specifically, the external display). This is convenient because it can be used as a setting operator for instructing to change various settings relating to the input device 11).
It should be noted that what is controlled by being superimposed on the touch panel operator 6b displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 as viewed from the mixer operator actually exists as described above, such as a musical instrument player, a singer, or a speaker. For example, a sound source device may be used instead of the external input device 11 that inputs a signal generated by an artist. In addition, an external output device 12 such as a speaker is superimposed on the touch panel operator 6b displayed on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 when viewed from the mixer operator, so that an output signal emitted from the speaker or the like can be controlled. Also good.

In addition, the information projected from the projector provided in the mixing console 5 such as a prompter or a rear projector is not limited to the above-described transparent liquid crystal display 6 that can emit light for display. It may be a transparent or translucent transparent display panel capable of displaying. In the case of a rear projector, by specially processing the surface of the screen member, the information projected through the rear mirror may be displayed so as to slightly protrude on the screen, and the opposite side of the screen may be seen through. . Moreover, the organic EL display etc. which were comprised using transparent organic EL (abbreviation of Electro Luminescence) etc. may be sufficient. When such an organic EL display is used, it is possible to display by emitting light without providing a light source, so that the display can be formed thinner. Further, displaying images and characters on the transparent liquid crystal display 6 is not limited to electronic control, and may be based on quasi-optical control such as a hologram.
Note that the embodiment of the control device according to the present invention is not limited to the audio mixer that performs the mixing processing of the audio signal as described above, but may be a video mixer that mixes the video signal, or by the operation of the operator. Any device may be used as long as it can connect one or a plurality of external devices having functions that can be set and controlled and can set and control the external devices.

1 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration showing an embodiment of the overall configuration of a mixing apparatus according to the present invention. It is an upper surface outline schematic diagram of a mixing device. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the transparency which a transparent liquid crystal display has, FIG. 3 (a) is an example of the installation aspect of the transparent liquid crystal display of a mixing apparatus, FIG.3 (b) is an example of the display state of a transparent liquid crystal display. Indicates. It is a partially expanded sectional view which shows one Example of the structure of a transparent liquid crystal display. It is a partially expanded sectional view which shows another Example of the structure of a transparent liquid crystal display. It is a flowchart which shows one Example of a main process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Signal processing part (DSP), 4a ... Signal input interface, 4b ... Signal output interface, 5 ... Mixing console (main body panel), 5a ... Controller, 5b ... Display , 6 ... Transparent liquid crystal display, 7 ... Position detector, 8 ... Camera, 9 ... Communication interface, 10 ... External storage device, 11 ... External input device, 12 ... External output device, 1D ... Communication bus (data and address bus) A: Mixer operator, B: Real artist, PN (PNa, PNb): Transparent liquid crystal panel, LT: Diffuse light source, HM: Half mirror

Claims (2)

Equipment set and / or an external device capable of controlling input and output signals 1 or connecting a plurality, and a control device capable of setting and controlling the external device,
Ri Na arranged transparency or translucent planar display medium remembering permeability, and a display means which visually displayed in advance a plurality of operating elements on the display medium,
Detecting the operator's point of view, as well as identify any one of a plurality of operating elements which are visibly displayed on the display medium based on the viewpoint of the detected operator transmitted through the display medium in use Among the external devices that are arranged in advance at a position facing the operator with the display medium visible to the operator, the operator visually recognizes the specified operator so that it substantially overlaps the display position of the operator. Assigning means for assigning external devices to be controlled ;
Detecting means for detecting that the pre-Symbol identified operator is operated,
A control device comprising control means for controlling device settings of an external device assigned to the operation device and / or input / output signals of the assigned external device according to the detected operation of the operation device. Wherein in response to assignment of an external device to a specified operator, a display control means for visual display of the predetermined information regarding the change instruction can the assigned external equipment specified operator on the display medium The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

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